New York’s Orchard Park — In an interview on Thursday, Josh Allen expressed his gratitude to Stefon Diggs “for when he came in and how hard he worked and what he taught me along the years.”
Since the Bills acquired the talented wide receiver in a trade in 2020, Allen stated that Diggs “meant a lot” to him. The quarterback also mentioned several times that other players now have more opportunities to step up as a result of the deal.
“It’s definitely hard to part ways with a guy that’s been very instrumental in our success here over the last four years,” Allen stated. Of course, I hope we can keep everyone. You know, we’ve had a lot of off-season changes and have lost a lot of experienced leadership, including Stef. That must be the nature of the industry. And as we approach Year 7, that’s just the way things are. I’m not compensated for making adjustments to the team. I’m paid to try to lead the men on this team and be the greatest quarterback I can be.”
Along with that, Allen noted that Diggs will “be the receiver that helped me become the quarterback that I am today, and I’ll always thank him for that.” Diggs will live on in Allen’s mind.
The quarterback made his first remarks in public regarding Buffalo’s trade of Diggs to the Houston Texans during a press conference held this week following the start of the team’s offseason practices. Before the transaction on the morning of April 3, Allen knew that Diggs could be traded due to discussions he had during the summer with general manager Brandon Beane.
After the transaction, Allen texted his former top target, and he received a response back. “I just wanted to thank him for everything that he did for me,” Allen said, adding, “I will always have a spot in my heart for him.” And that guy will always be my brother. And all I want for him is the finest.”
Diggs, 30, tied for fourth place in receiving touchdowns, led the NFL in receptions, and finished fourth in receiving yards during their four years together. With four seasons in a row with 100 receptions, he is tied with Antonio Brown for the second-longest streak in NFL history.
When asked what specifically he learned from Diggs — who was a three-time captain with the Bills — Allen cited “the concepts that we were able to put in, the concepts that we’re able to run with him, his mentality, the way that he attacked each and every practice, it was very infectious, especially for the young guys seeing that.”
Diggs’ season in Buffalo came to an end following a season of highs and lows. It began with the receiver’s absence from the first day of the required minicamp in 2023, which coach Sean McDermott later explained as “excused.” The receiver also made several public declarations expressing his desire to play for the Bills until retirement. Along with Stefon Diggs’ own cryptic social media tweets during the offseason, it featured remarks made by his brother, Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs, on social media about getting his brother out of Buffalo. All of that was combined with a decline in output in the second part of the season on the field.
Allen stated that “it’s something you may have to ask him at some point” because he was unable to explain why Diggs’ seeming unhappiness seemed to cling on. The quarterback shifted his focus to the opportunities that await the surviving players and the newcomers.
Additionally, McDermott made his initial remarks regarding the Diggs trade, stating that he “really enjoyed” his time with the receiver and that “we’ll miss him.” A player like Stef Diggs is impossible to replace, and we wish him well. Stef and his household. It’s difficult to move on from a talent like that, but we’ve returned to examining our roster and are eager for the individuals who have the opportunity to stand up in that room.”
Allen, who is starting his sixth season, is one of the two squad captains from the previous season still in place (the other being Von Miller). McDermott and Allen both mentioned that the quarterback’s goal for this season is to continue developing as a leader, something he is “very excited about.”
“As a franchise quarterback, players who earn a second deal don’t receive compensation for being the quarterback alone. When questioned about the lessons he took away from his connection with Diggs, Allen responded, “You’re getting paid to be the best leader that you can be, and the best quarterback obviously comes with that.”
Thus, leadership can take many various forms. In this building, you wear a lot of hats, and sometimes it makes things difficult, especially when I want to fit in with the boys. I have to constantly remind myself that you’re perceived slightly differently. Guys are depending on you a little bit more, so you need to be aware of that while also having that humility that allows you to admit when and when you’re mistaken, as well as trusting the coaching staff and your teammates.
“And I think that’s what we’ve learned over the last few years, not just with [Diggs], but with other receivers and with other players as well,” Allen continued. Everybody has a particular kind of relationship, and every individual has a unique motivator. However, I believe that we are making the most of this moment to discover what motivates these players to play this game and what drives them.”
